The Department of Health (DOH) has officially raised the alarm on the dramatic increase in road crash injuries recorded over the recent holiday season, labeling the trend a significant public health problem for the nation.
Sharp Surge in Road Crash Casualties
In a press conference held on Monday, January 5, 2026, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa presented alarming data. From December 21, 2025, to January 5, 2026, a total of 1,384 road crash injuries were documented across just 10 sentinel hospitals monitored by the department.
This figure represents a staggering 100 percent increase compared to the same surveillance period the previous year, which recorded 690 cases. Secretary Herbosa emphasized the scale of the issue, noting that these numbers come from a limited sample of hospitals. "This is a public health problem. From only 10 hospitals, we had over 1,300 road crash injuries. Imagine if there were more sentinel hospitals," he stated.
Motorcycles Account for Majority of Cases
A deeper look into the data reveals a troubling pattern. The DOH reported that the overwhelming majority of the injuries involved motorcycles. Out of the 1,384 total cases, 989 involved motorcycles.
The severity of these incidents is further highlighted by the fatalities. Herbosa shared that seven out of ten recorded deaths from road crashes during this period were individuals on motorcycles.
Firecracker Injuries Show Decline, But Goal Is Zero
In a contrasting trend, the Department noted a decrease in injuries related to firecrackers during the welcoming of 2026. From December 21, 2025, to January 5, 2026, 720 firecracker-related injuries were recorded across 62 sentinel hospitals.
This marks a 14 percent decrease from the 834 cases reported in the same period last year. Despite this improvement, the health department expressed that it is not satisfied. Secretary Herbosa reaffirmed the commitment to the annual Iwas Paputok campaign, declaring, "We won’t stop until it’s zero."
The demographic breakdown of firecracker victims shows that a significant portion are young: 377 injuries, or 52 percent, were sustained by individuals aged 19 and below. The remaining 343 injuries, or 48 percent, involved those aged 20 and above. The most common culprits were identified as kwitis, five-star, whistle bomb, boga, and piccolo.
The DOH's report underscores a critical need for intensified road safety measures, particularly for motorcycle riders, while maintaining vigilance against preventable injuries from fireworks.
